A set of six fiddle, thread and shell pattern tableforks, by Mary Chawner London 1836. All are engraved with the name of Sion College and each carries a different name and date (between 1836-1838) .
Price: £525.00 Sion College was founded in 1630 under a bequest of £3000 from the Reverend Thomas White to support members of the clergy and initially comprised alms-houses and a library . Between 1710 and 1836, the library was one of the copyright libraries that received a copy of each book published in England. It moved several times within London and, in the twentieth century when its premises were sold, the collections of books were donated to Lambeth Palace and King's College, London. Sion College is now based at Faith House in Westminster and continues to support the Clergy of London through grants and fellowships. The names on these forks are those of donors to the College.

A silver-gilt replica of the Manners fork, by Walter Willson London 1936, engraved with the crests from the orginal fork. This fork is in a later box.
Price: £185.00 The original "Manners Fork" made in London in 1632 by Richard Crosse is the earliest recorded silver fork made by an English workshop and is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum. They purchased it in 1923 from the London-based dealer, Walter H. Wilson, for £100. The crests on this fork are copied from the original and are those of John Manners (1604-1679), future 8th Earl of Rutland, and his wife Frances Montagu (1613-1671) whom he married in 1628. He inherited Haddon Hall, in Derbyshire in 1623. In 1924 the Curator of Metalwork at the Victoria and Albert Museum recorded in the notes for this fork that the matching spoon had recently been discovered under one of the floors of Haddon Hall.

Of Military interest:: A heavy fiddle, thread and husk tablefork, by William Eaton London 1828, crested for the 17th Lancers.
Price: £85.00 The 17th Lancers were raised (as the 18th Light Dragoons) by Colonel John Hale who brought news of General Wolfe's death in Quebec back to England (leading to their unusual crest). Having seen service in many theatres of war they were redesignated the 17th Lancers in 1823 and in 1826 Lord Bingham (later 3rd Earl of Lucan) purchased their Lieutenant Colonelcy. He invested heavily in the Regiment and they were sometimes called "Bingham's Dandies". Under Bingham they were part of the Charge of the Light Brigade he commanded. Following several amalgamations they now form part of the Royal Lancers.
(2 similar forks available)